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What to do with leftover paint
The best way to give leftover paint headaches the brush-off is to measure the area to be painted before you start. Surprisingly, a consumer study showed that nearly half of respondents reported they do not measure before purchasing paint.
Here’s a five-point program for leftover paint from the National Paint & Coatings Association that saves you money, keeps your home and garage from being cluttered and helps the environment by keeping usable paint out of the waste stream.
1. Buy the correct amount of paint for the project. By checking with your local paint dealer on how to determine the correct volume of paint required for your project, you can eliminate the need to store, dispose of or recycle paint when the project is finished.
2. Store paint properly to keep it fresh. If your project is complete and you still have a fair amount of paint left over, cover the opening of the paint can with plastic wrap and securely seal the lid. When you are sure the lid is leak-proof, turn the can upside down and store it in a place with a moderate room temperature to avoid freezing. Be sure to choose a safe location that is out of the reach of children and pets.
3. Use up leftover paint. Now that you have safely stored your leftover paint, don’t forget about it. Leftover paint can be used for touch-ups or smaller projects, and lighter colors can be taken back to a paint retailer and be tinted for another paint project.
4. Reuse or recycle. For a community association, theater company, church group or other local organization that may be in need of good paint, check the “Earth 911” Paint Wise Web portal at earth911.org/recycling/paint-recycling. Or call 800-CLEAN-UP to learn about paint reuse, recycling and HHW (Household Hazardous Waste) collection programs that are available in your community.
5. Dispose of paint properly. If there is not a leftover paint collection program available in your area, you may need to dispose of leftover latex paint yourself. Air-drying of liquid alkyd or oil-based paint is not considered safe. Solvent-based paint should be managed only by a hazardous waste program. In regions that allow it, let your latex paint air-dry in a safe location away from children and pets.
Courtesy of NAPSI
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